Town council gives go-ahead for third phase of WEBC trails

The third phase of the bike trails will be able to get started sooner rather than later at the Libro Centre.

The Windsor-Essex Bike Community (WEBC) has completed two phases of the trails and was seeking permission to complete the third phase. Councillor Don McArthur put forth a notice of motion May 12 calling for the completion of the third phase “subject to the design and location approval by the director of parks, recreation and facilities” and that authority be delegated to the chief administrative officer (CAO) and clerk “to sign and execute any modifications that may be required to the existing land stewardship agreement and/or any such agreement required to begin construction of the Phase 3 Mountain Bike Trail at the Libro Centre.”

McArthur’s motion was passed at the May 26 meeting.

The team at WEBC raised $55,000 for the third phase, McArthur noted, and it is a 2.5 km trail. The overall total is 8.5 km between the three phases, he said, adding there are between 5,500 to 6,000 volunteer hours of work that were put in. All money for the trails was raised by WEBC, he said.

“We had given them conditional approval because council loves this project,” McArthur stated. “At the time, it was contingent on the Libro Master Plan being done. That’s going to take well into the summer, which (WEBC’s) timeline feels it is too long.”

Citing a statement earlier in May from director of parks, recreation and facilities Heidi Baillargeon that there is little risk to putting the trail in, McArthur said any risk would be to WEBC and not to the town. Of the town, he said “there is a lot of reward.”

Starting it in spring could lead to the third phase being open in the summer, he added, and construction could be done before the hot temperatures of summer hit.

Councillor Diane Pouget called it “a good notice of motion” but asked if there was any additional costs or liabilities. Baillargeon said administration will work with WEBC to amend the existing land stewardship agreement to include the new stretch of trail. 

Baillargeon said there is no conflict between the trails and any future planned amenities. Public feedback on the parks master plan was positive, she added.

“I don’t see any reason to hold anything up,” she said.

Duffy’s property update

A brief update was given about the King’s Navy Yard Park extension, also known as the former Duffy’s property.

The property is still fenced off but town council was given some hope at the May 26 meeting. Councillor Diane Pouget believed all of council was getting calls about it and wanted to know “what’s holding us up?” Pouget asked what can council do to speed the process up and get the fencing removed.

“This has been going on for seven years, at least,” she said.

Director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon said she is working with provincial officials on the matter and said there was “happy news” to report. Meetings have been held with the province but “great conversations” were held and the final soil delination plan is on the docket. She said a tender is set to go out to tender for construction works at the site.

Remaining work is for underground works such as site servicing for lighting and drainage, putting in walkways, landscaping and grading.

“There will be some soil removals with that,” she said, adding the town is looking to have some provincial orders removed or reduced.

Strong Mayor powers

The Strong Mayor powers Amherstburg did not want was still given to the municipality and there is now some confusion over how they impact budgetary matters.

Councillor Molly Allaire brought up the issue of vouchers for the trap, neuter and release (TNR) program and wanted it addressed during 2026 budget deliberations. Deputy CAO Melissa Osborne pointed out the town was granted Strong Mayor powers May 1 and that led to questions over council’s ability to provide direction. 

“We’re still absorbing how all of these Strong Mayor powers work. Whether you want to use them or not, they do set in motion specific ways of which things need to be directed to the mayor, who can bring them back to council, or not,” said Osborne.

Administration is still reviewing the legislation to see what it means, how it works and how the town ensures business still moves forward “without violating these rules that council did not ask for.”

Mayor Michael Prue suggested Allaire wait to put her motion forward.

“I don’t want to use those powers unless I am forced to do so. I think if you don’t force me, I’m not using them,” said Prue.

Osborne said “essentially it is no longer your budget. If it comes before council before Feb. 1, it is technically the mayor’s budget.” She said if a budget came forward before Feb. 1, it does not mean direction could not be set if the mayor’s direction was to go along with whatever council said to do.

Osborne asked council to wait as the issue is complicated and in-year decisions have implications on who can bring budget matters forward.

“I want to leave council with as much latitude as council can possibly have,” said Prue.

Old Boblo dock

Mayor Michael Prue said he had it “on very excellent authority” a tender has been awarded from the federal government to take down the former Boblo dock on Front Road South.

“I heard it from a person who applied in Amherstburg to be one of the contenders and was told he did not get it. It was awarded to a company in London, Ontario.”

Deputy CAO Melissa Osborne said CAO Valerie Critchley received an e-mail confirming the news.

Town council gives go-ahead for third phase of WEBC trails

By Ron Giofu